Curb-bit.



Patented Oct. 3|, I899. W. H. AUGHEY.

CURB BIT.

(Application flied Apr. 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. AUGHEY, OF PETROLEUM CENTRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURB-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,099, dated October 31, 1899.

Application. filed April 19, 1899. Serial No, 713,683. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. AUGHEY, of Petroleum Centre, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Curb Bit, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

An object of the invention is to provide a curb-bit capable of use with as good results in a tender mouth as in the mouth of a hardbitted or vicious animal.

Another object of the invention is to. construct a strong, simple, and light-weight bit and to provide means for quickly and conveniently changing the points of attachment of the bridle, checkrein,and curb-strap, and therefore to cause the curb to act gently or with any necessary severity that may be demanded by the character of an animals mouth.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as Will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is'a side elevation of the improved bit applied to the mouth of a horse, illustrating also the application thereto of the bridle curb-strap and driving-reins. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the improved bit, and Fig. 3 is a plan View thereof.

The cheek or side pieces A of the bit are connected at their centers by a mouth-bar B, and where the said mouth-bar passes through the cheek-pieces the bar is preferably squared or rendered polygonal, and the outer ends of the bar are threaded to receive nuts 10. The cheek-pieces A of the bit preferably consist of two connected rings a and a,and the mouthbar B is provided with a gag O. This gag, as illustrated, consists of an arched bar 11, intermediate bars 12, and a roller 13, mounted between the intermediate bars. The lower ring a of each cheek-piece is strengthened by a vertical central bar 14, and the lower ends of the cheek-pieces are connected by a curved bar 15, and where the connecting-bar 15 unites with the cheek-pieces swivels 16 are located, adapted to receive the outer ends of the driving-reins 17. The lower rings a serve to render the lower portions of the cheekpieces A strong, yet light, While the upper rings a are to provide certain bars of definite extent and position on which to secure the straps of the bridle, as will be hereinafter described.

A central bar 18 is located in the upper ring a of each cheek-piece, the said central bar extending from the bottom in direction of the top of the said ring a, connecting at its up per end with a curved cross-bar 19, the upper edge whereof is concaved. This curved crossbar is secured at one end to the upper side portion of said ring at, its other end being attached to a segmental bar 20, that is concentric with the upper and under side portions of the ring a, as shown particularlyin Fig. 2.

The segmental bar 20 connects with the arched or curved cross-bar 19 near the junction of the latter bar with the body of the ring a, and the segmental bar 20 is also secured to or made integral with the lower portion of the central vertical bar 18. Under this arrangement of the bars 18, 19, and 20 a segmental space b is formed between the body of the ring and said segmental bar 20, while at each side of the vertical bar 18 a space is formed, one of said spaces being designated as b and the other as 6 Thatportion of the bar 19 that extends from the segmental bar 20 to the side portion of the ring (1. acts as a guide or check, as it determines the position of the nose-strap D, the said nose-strap being placed at the back of the safety or guide section b of thebar 19 when the bit is adapted to the mouth of a vicious or hard-bitted horse, While the said nose-strap D is placed at the front of the said bar-section b when the bit is to be used upon a gentle animal or one with a tender mouth. The lower portion of the bar 18 serves a corresponding purpose to the extension 19 of the upper curved cross-bar 19.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the manner in which the bridle and various straps are connected with the bit when said bit is to be used upon a vicious horse, at which time the nose-strap D, which occupies its usual position, is made to enter the spaces 1) in the upper rings of the bit and is attached to the marginal bars thereof, and the lower ends of the side straps of the headstall O are likewise made to enter the same spaces, but are attached to the marginal bars below the nose-strap, while the curb-strap E engages with the vertical bars 18. Under this connection of the bit with the various straps great purchase may be ob- When the straps are thus attached to the bit,

the gag is held in the mouth substantially parallel with the tongue and the mouth-bar is prevented from rocking, thus rendering the bit easy; but the curb may be brought into action at any time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A bit the cheek-pieces whereof are provided at their upper ring-sections with a central bar extending from the bottom of the ring to a point near the top, a curved crossbar attached to the upper portion of the said ring-section, being connected with the vertical bar, and a segmental bar curved in an opposite direction to the cross-bar and connectpieces having a ring formation at their upper ends, a mouth-bar connecting the cheekpieces and a gag carried by the mouth-bar, the upper-ring portion of each cheek-piece being provided with a central bar extending from the bottom of the ring-section to a point near the top, a curved cross-bar attached to the upper forward portion of the said ringsection, being connected with the vertical bar, and a segmental bar curved in an opposite direction to the cross-bar and connected therewith at each of the ends and also with the lower portion of the central cross-bar, for the purpose specified.

3. A bit the body of which comprises eheek= pieces having a ring formation at their upper ends, a mouth-bar connecting the cheekpieces, and a gag carried by the mouth-bar, the upper ring-section of each cheek-piece being provided with a central bar extending from the bottom of the ring-section to a point near the top, a curved cross-bar attached to the upper forward portion of the said ringsection, being connected with the vertical bar, a segmental bar curved in an opposite direction to the cross-bar and connected therewith at each of the ends and also with the lower portion of the central cross-bar, the said segmental bar being concentric with the body of the said ring-section of the bit, the curved cross-bar being provided with a guidesection for the nose-strap of the bridle, which section is located where the said cross-bar connects with the body of the said ring-section, for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM H. AUGHEY.

Witnesses:

' A. J. LEwIs,

H. W. FISHER. 

